Ben Davies and Jade Jones Lead the Charge!

Olympic Gold medallist Jade Jones and Swansea FC’s rising star Ben Davies have been unveiled as the faces for the 2014 World Book Day campaign in Wales. This month, over 15,000 posters will be distributed to schools, colleges, bookshops and libraries across the nation in the run-up to World Book Day on 6 March 2014.

The posters show Jade taking a break from her training schedule to read The Rice Paper Diaries by Francesca Rhydderch (Seren Books) at the Vale of Glamorgan hotel, near Cardiff, and Ben enjoying Y Bancsi Bach by Tudur Dylan Jones (Y Lolfa) in the Liberty Stadium stands.

Jade noted: "It's a great privilege to be selected for the World Book Day 2014 poster campaign to inspire youngsters to read. Professional sportsmen and sportswomen invest a great deal of time and energy in their training in order to be at their best. But it’s just as important to get some time to relax, and reading is ideal for times such as these."

Ben added: "I enjoy reading books as well as websites about football, and catching up with the news online as well as social media. If I had to choose my favourite children’s book, it would be Smot y Ci, the Welsh adaptation of Spot the dog and of course Roald Dahl’s books are a must when you are a young kid discovering books."

World Book Day was designated by UNESCO as a worldwide celebration of books and reading, and is marked in over 100 countries around the globe. The event in Wales sees thousands of children marking the day by taking part in reading activities and events, bringing their favourite book to school, or dressing up as their favourite book character. As well as celebrating books, the day also highlights the importance of reading as an essential life-skill.

Angharad Tomos, Reading Promotions Project Manager at the Welsh Books Council, who coordinate the scheme in Wales, commented: "We are delighted to have Ben and Jade as our World Book Day poster personalities. They are both first class in their respective fields, and an inspiration to youngsters throughout Wales. "World Book Day not only celebrates books, but also highlights the importance of reading for pleasure; from books and magazines to newspapers and the internet, reading is a skill that affects our every-day lives. It is vital that youngsters are inspired to read, and we are grateful to Jade and Ben for leading the way."

The World Book Day campaign in Wales is supported by booksellers Waterstones. Chris Laister-Smith, on behalf of the company, noted: "Waterstones are proud to support the World Book Day activities in Wales. For the past three years we have backed the campaign by contributing the funds raised through the levy on selling plastic bags in our shops to support activities that promote reading. World Book Day raises awareness of the enjoyment that reading gives, and the activities arranged throughout Wales will bring books and reading alive to thousands of children."